Objective: Recent reports in Europe suggest a decline in 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; Ecstasy) use, but quantifiable and objective measurement is unavailable. The global extent of changes in MDMA and related stimulant use is also unclear. This study aims to quantify changes in MDMA use in Australia and determine whether these changes have been accompanied by differing amounts of other stimulant use.
Method: We acquired information on recent use of MDMA and related illicit stimulants in Australia using the method of wastewater analysis. Untreated wastewater samples collected from three metropolitan treatment plants in Adelaide from May to July 2009 and the same months in 2010 were analyzed. Concentrations of MDMA, methamphetamine, and benzoylecgonine (a metabolite of cocaine) were determined using solid phase extraction-liquid chromatography- tandem mass spectrometry. Weekly consumed doses of MDMA, methamphetamine, and cocaine per 1,000 people were estimated.
Results: From 2009 to 2010, weekly consumption of MDMA decreased from mean of 4.52 (SEM = 0.74) doses/week per 1,000 people to 0.08 (0.01) doses/week per 1,000 people (p < .001); weekly consumption of methamphetamine increased from a mean of 48.35 (6.13) doses/week per 1,000 people to 68.13 (5.33) doses/week per 1,000 people (p < .05); and weekly consumed doses of cocaine did not significantly change. Local roadside saliva testing data also showed that the MDMA-positive test rate decreased from 0.30% to 0.05% and the methamphetamine-positive test rate increased from 1.43% to 1.52% during the past 2 years.
Conclusions: This study shows a 50-fold decrease in consumed doses of MDMA with a rise in methamphetamine use in Australia over a 1-year period.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.15288/jsad.2011.72.737 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
[Safety and efficacy of Relatox in comparison with Dysport in the treatment of focal spasticity of the upper limb in patients after stroke and traumatic brain injury (results of a prospective simple blind randomized comparative study in parallel groups)].
Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova
December 2024
GUTA-CLINIC LLC, Moscow, Russia.
Objective: Evaluation of the safety and effectiveness of Relatox, botulinum toxin type A in patients with focal spasticity (FS) of the upper limb as a result of a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Material And Methods: A multicenter, prospective, single-blinded, randomized, comparative clinical study included 210 patients of both sexes aged 18-75 years after moderate to severe TBI and CVA in seven sites in the Russian Federation. The patients were randomized into two groups.
Identification of confounders and estimating the causal effect of place of birth on age-specific childhood vaccination.
BMC Med Inform Decis Mak
December 2024
School of Mathematics, Statistics & Computer Science, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa.
Background: In causal analyses, some third factor may distort the relationship between the exposure and the outcome variables under study, which gives spurious results. In this case, treatment groups and control groups that receive and do not receive the exposure are different from one another in some other essential variables, called confounders.
Method: Place of birth was used as exposure variable and age-specific childhood vaccination status was used as outcome variables.
Development of a set of indicators for the quality of chronic pain management in Chinese community-dwelling older adults: a Delphi study.
BMC Geriatr
December 2024
Harbin Medical University, Daqing, Heilongjiang Province, China.
Background: Standardized and systematic quality assessments of chronic pain management, particularly among older adult populations, are lacking in resource-limited community settings. A specific set of indicators to evaluate the quality of chronic pain management in this population has yet to be developed. Therefore, the present study constructed a set of indicators to assess the quality of chronic pain management in Chinese community-dwelling older adults, providing a standardized reference and guidance for community health centers to manage chronic pain in this population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFType 1 diabetes genetic risk score variation across ancestries using whole genome sequencing and array-based approaches.
Sci Rep
December 2024
Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, RILD Building, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, University of Exeter, Barrack Road, Exeter, EX2 5DW, UK.
A Type 1 Diabetes Genetic Risk Score (T1DGRS) aids diagnosis and prediction of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). While traditionally derived from imputed array genotypes, Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) provides a more direct approach and is now increasingly used in clinical and research studies. We investigated the concordance between WGS-based and array-based T1DGRS across genetic ancestries in 149,265 UK Biobank participants using WGS, TOPMed-imputed, and 1000 Genomes-imputed array genotypes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrediction of late-onset preeclampsia using plasma proteomics: a longitudinal multi-cohort study.
Sci Rep
December 2024
Department of Obstetrics, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy disorder with substantial perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality. Pregnant women at risk of preeclampsia would benefit from early detection for follow-up, timely interventions and delivery. Several attempts have been made to identify protein biomarkers of preeclampsia, but findings vary with demographics, clinical characteristics, and time of sampling.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!